Karate Systems, Part 4 of 3 (Bonus Addition!)

This has been such a popular subject that we have added a bonus article covering a few extras about Karate Systems. Thanks to everyone for you great feedback!

Shukokai

Shukokai is a hard-hitting style of karate in which force is exerted through the correct use of body mechanics. Its double hip twist, which is a way of maximizing punching power, is unique to the system. Mobility and speed are important elements, and a relatively high stance is maintained during fighting. Practitioners typically engage in very long sessions of competitive semicontact sparring, developing power through the use of regular pad work.

Hard hitting

The key to the system's punching power is a combination of the use of the larger muscle groups in the legs, combined with body rotation. The system's chief instructor, Mr. Kimura, spent three years traveling throughout Europe and Africa, studying fighting arts, refining techniques, and incorporating them into the system. Many of these are now included in the syllabus.

Tenshin Shoden Katori

The founder of tenshin shoden katori, Lisaza Lenao, was a talented swordsman. It is claimed that he spent 1,000 days and nights practicing martial arts in the Katori shrine.

This is one of the oldest Japanese martial-arts systems. Although it includes a broad range of skills, the use of the sword is an essential element of the art. Originally, training would have included intelligence-gathering and analysis, warfare strategy, divination, and astronomy, alongside esoteric schools of Buddhism. Although oaths are common in martial-arts circles, the "keppan," the blood oath found in tenshin shoden katori, was extremely stringent.

Modern practice

Today, practitioners use single and double swords of varying lengths at the same time, as well as staves; most schools teach arts that would have been common on the battlefield in the 15th century: sojutsu, jujutsu, shurikenjutsu, and naginatajutsu.

Nippon Kempo

This competitive combat sport utilizes samurai-based armor for full-contact sparring. It employs a wide range of strikes, immobilization techniques, and takedowns. Blocking, diverting, joint locking, and grappling are also used. The main influences on the art are karate, judo, jujutsu, and aikido, along with a number of wrestling techniques. Many police forces in Japan use nippon kempo training, both to develop practical martial arts' skills and to build confidence.

Hakko Ryu

The system, founded by a shiatsu master, is related to daito ryu, and is believed to have had a major influence on the founder of shorinji kempo .

Holistic approach

In contrast to most other martial arts, in which students first study how to strike an opponent, the first thing that students of hakko ryu learn is the "hakko dori"-an escape technique. This is a reminder of the art's holistic origins.

Emphasis is placed on the concept of "kan," or feeling and intuition. Interestingly, similar requirements are deemed important in the study of Oriental medicine, in particular massage, in which the practitioner's hands are used almost intuitively to search for physical problems.

Other areas of study that relate to combat include posture and stance work, and engagement strategies.